Puerto Rico

Full name of country: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

Region: Central America and Caribbean

Official language: Spanish, English

Population: 3,019,450 (2024 est.)

Nationality: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens) (noun), Puerto Rican (adjective)

Land area: 8,959 sq km (3,459 sq miles)

Water area: 145 sq km (55.9 sq miles)

Capital: San Juan

National anthem: "La Borinquena" (The Puerto Rican), by Manuel Fernandez Juncos/Felix Astol Artes

National holiday: US Independence Day, July 4 (1776); , July 25 (1952)

Population growth: -1.2% (2024 est.)

Time zone: UTC –4

Flag: The flag of Puerto Rico features five equally sized horizontal bands—the top, center, and bottom bands are red, and the remaining two are white. The base of a blue isosceles triangle rests on the hoist (left) side of the flag. In the center of the triangle is a white, five-pointed star.

Independence: Territory of the US with commonwealth status)

Government type: commonwealth

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Legal system: civil law system based on the Spanish civil code and within the framework of the US federal system

Puerto Rico is an island territory in the Caribbean Ocean. Once a colony of Spain, it is now a territory of the United States with commonwealth status, and its culture is replete with Caribbean and Spanish influences. Puerto Rico's capital, San Juan, has one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean, located on a key shipping channel to the Panama Canal. The island's name is Spanish and translates to "rich port" in English.

Note: unless otherwise indicated, statistical data in this article is sourced from the CIA World Factbook, as cited in the bibliography.

Topography

Puerto Rico lies between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean. It is the easternmost island of the West Indies group called the Greater Antilles, which also includes the larger islands of Cuba, Hispaniola, and Jamaica.

The island is mostly mountainous, and is surrounded by a broken coastal plain. Its climate is mild. Spanish and English are the joint official languages for the predominantly Hispanic and Roman Catholic population.

San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital city, has one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean, located on a key shipping channel to the Panama Canal.

Cultural Sites & Landmarks

Puerto Rico has a wealth of cultural and historical landmarks, many of which derive from its Spanish colonial heritage. Perhaps the finest example of Puerto Rico's preserved colonial past is seen in Old San Juan, the historical colonial section of the capital of San Juan. The old town dates back to the early sixteenth century and is considered the oldest settlement in the territories of the United States. It is famous for its cobblestone streets and pastel-colored, tile-roof buildings with ornate balconies and indoor courtyards. The San Juan Cathedral is another rare example of medieval Spanish colonial architecture. It encompasses a vaulted tower and four rooms, which date from 1540. The Dominican Convent, also in San Juan, dates back to the sixteenth century and houses the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture.

San Juan is also home to one World Heritage Site, as designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO), collectively known as La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site. La Fortaleza, also called Santa Catalina Palace, is considered the New World's oldest mansion. It was also the first fortification constructed to defend colonial San Juan. A medieval-style fortress with two round towers, it eventually became the official residence of Puerto Rico's governors. Between the fifteenth and the nineteenth century, a series of fortifications and forts were constructed that would constitute one of the best displays of Spanish military architecture. Collectively designated as the San Juan National Historic Site, these fortifications include three forts, bastions, and the old city's wall. Fort San Felipe del Morro, better known as El Morro Fortress, stands guard over the San Juan Bay. San Cristobál fortress, which was begun in 1634, is the largest fortress built by the Spanish in the Americas. Fortín San Juan de la Cruz (Fort Saint John of the Cross), better known as El Cañuelo, guards the Bayamón River.

Like Old San Juan, the city of Ponce has a rich historical heritage. Its buildings and streets radiate outward from an open main square, the stately and elegant Plaza de Las Delicias (Plaza of Delights). The Plaza del Mercado was an old marketplace converted to an artisan's marketplace that sells traditional food, fruit, and flowers. At one time it was an old art deco movie theater. Also in Ponce is the Parque de Bombas (the Firehouse). This is a boldly-painted, turn-of-the-century building that once housed the town's fire station and mobile, hand-pumped firefighting units. It has now been converted into a museum. There are also a number of restored homes in the city of Ponce that are architecturally and historically valuable, including the Castillo Serralles, home of the Serralles family, the oldest producers of rum on the island. Situated on El Vigia Hill, it is a multistoried, Spanish-style hacienda with an open courtyard and elegant fountains.

Puerto Rico has suffered extensive damage from various hurricanes. These included Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria in September 2017, in which many buildings, including prominent landmarks, were totally destroyed or damaged beyond repair and the large Guajataca Dam in the northwest of the island became a hazard. The island's electrical grid was almost completely destroyed. The devastation created a humanitarian crisis on top of existing economic challenges, threatening the valuable tourist industry and causing many residents to move elsewhere. Humanitarian aid to Puerto Rico became a notable political issue in the United States, with President Donald Trump facing significant criticism for his administration's handling of the disaster.

Government

Puerto Rico is a commonwealth territory of the United States. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917, and popularly elected governors have served since 1948. Puerto Rico's citizens can vote in US national primary elections for presidential candidates, but not in general elections. The Puerto Rican delegate to the US House of Representatives can only vote in committees. Residents of the island do not pay federal income tax on money earned in Puerto Rico.

In 1952, the people of Puerto Rico voted in favor of commonwealth status, and a constitution was enacted that provided for internal self-government. The island was declared the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico by the US Congress on July 25, 1952. In subsequent votes, Puerto Ricans continued to choose commonwealth status over independence or statehood. However, a majority of Puerto Ricans voted in favor of a nonbinding referendum endorsing US statehood in November 2012. Similar support for statehood was seen in a 2017 referendum, although in that case voter turnout was significantly low. Puerto Rico could become the fifty-first US state with legislative approval from the US Congress, but its political status remains a point of debate. While most Puerto Ricans consistently support some level of formal connection to the United States, a Puerto Rican nationalist movement also exists.

The question of Puerto Rico's political status came to the forefront in 2015, when the island's government announced it could not repay its debts. However, US federal bankruptcy regulations stipulated that, like a state, the commonwealth could not declare bankruptcy. In 2016 the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) was approved and signed by President Barack Obama, allowing a major debt restructuring and establishing a financial oversight board.

In 2019 Puerto Rico underwent a leadership crisis when governor Ricardo Rosselló and many members of his administration were caught up in a scandal involving leaked messages that were widely criticized as vulgar, homophobic, sexist, and racist. Following major protests, Rosselló announced his resignation that July. However, he attempted to transfer power to his chosen successor, Pedro Pierluisi, leading to a legal challenge and eventual ruling by the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico that removed Pierluisi from the governorship. Rosselló was instead succeeded by Wanda Vázquez Garced. Garced did not secure her party's nomination for reelection in 2020. The party instead endorsed Pierluisi, who went on to win the election and was sworn into office on January 2, 2021.

In August 2020, the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act 2020 was introduced to the US House of Representatives. Later that year, in a nonbinding 2020 referendum, 52 percent of voters were in favor of Puerto Rico becoming a state. Despite the vote, many believe that Congress will not take Puerto Rico's bid for statehood seriously as of 2021.

Fascinating Facts

• The word "criollo" (a variant of creole) is used by Puerto Ricans when discussing things native to the island and its culture, such as music, art, and architecture.
• Animal species introduced to Puerto Rico include the horse and the mongoose.
• The first governor of Puerto Rico was Juan Ponce de León (1460–1521), the famed Spanish conquistador who explored the New World, particularly the modern-day area of Florida, searching for the Fountain of Youth.

Bibliography

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Carvalho, Edward J. Puerto Rico Is in the Heart: Emigration, Labor, and Politics in the Life and Work of Frank Espada. Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2013. Print.

Cavalieri, Nate, and Beth Kohn. Lonely Planet Puerto Rico. London: Lonely Planet, 2012. Print.

Corugo, Cristina. "Puerto Rico Votes in Favor of Statehood. But What Does it Mean for the Island?" ABC News, 8 Nov. 2020, abcnews.go.com/US/puerto-rico-votes-favor-statehood-island/story?id=74055630. Accessed 22 Mar. 2021.

Crampsey, Robert A. Puerto Rico. London: Holdings, 1973. Print.

Esquivel, Adolfo Perez, et al. Let Freedom Ring. Oakland: PM, 2008. Print.

Falk, Pamela S., ed. The Political Status of Puerto Rico. Toronto: Lexington, 1986. Print.

Hancock, Ralph. Puerto Rico: A Traveler's Guide. New York: Van Nostrand1962. Print.

Perez, Ramon Bosque, and Jose Javier Colon Morera. Puerto Rico under Colonial Rule. Albany SUNY P, 2006. Print.

"Puerto Rico." The World Factbook, US Central Intelligence Agency, 12 Dec. 2024, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rq.html. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025.

"Puerto Rico Fast Facts." CNN, 4 Sept. 2019, www.cnn.com/2018/01/17/us/puerto-rico-fast-facts/index.html. Accessed 10 Sept. 2019.

Rivera, Nelson. Visual Arts and the Puerto Rican Performing Arts, 1950–1990s. New York: Peter Lang1997. Print.

Silen, Juan Angel. We, the Puerto Rican People. Trans. Cedric Belfrage. New York: Monthly, 1971. Print.

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